God-Based Peace

1 Samuel 20-21; Psalm 113-114; Proverbs 15:15-17

 

People often say that religion is the cause of many wars. While not denying that many wars throughout history have had religious motivations behind them, there is also something to be said for religion as the basis for peace.

 

Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, `The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.' " Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town. – 1 Samuel 20:42

 

Jonathan stood to inherit the kingship of Israel. His father was king. Yet he had sworn an oath of friendship and peace with David – the very man whom God had anointed to replace Jonathan’s father as the next king. Jonathan and David, apart from their common God, should have been enemies. But their friendship under God united them in peace.

 

There is only one true God. The claims by various religions that there are true gods other than the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – competing gods who oppose Jesus Christ – is a basis for wars. One day, when Jesus returns, there will be one last war as he defeats all the demonic gods who oppose him and all the men who have followed other gods in rebelling against the One True King. But there will also be peace. There will be a peace unlike any peace ever experienced among men since the Fall at the Garden of Eden, because all humanity that remains will once again be in unity. They will once again be united by the Only True God, and there will be peace.

 

That peace has begun already for those from all nations and former religious affiliations who have been brought under the kingship of Jesus Christ: For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. – Eph. 2:14-18

 

Father, thank You that those of us who have confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord have already begun to experience a peace that will last forever with one another, the kind of peace that only comes by sharing the same God. Thank You that we are still living in the days when we can invite others to share that peace. It is so good to be able to bring others the good news that You are withholding Your wrath against rebels, patiently giving everyone more and more time to realize that You are King and that You are willing to grant merciful pardons because of Jesus’ sacrificial death for us on the cross. May I go out today, ready to extend the peace of Jesus Christ to everyone I meet.